Both St. John and St. Paul were from wealthy families. St. John lived in the 5th century and St. Paul in the 3rd century. Both forsook all of their earthly riches for the Heavenly. St. John fled from Constantinople to a monastery in Asia Minor where he lived in strictness for six years. He then returned to his parents’ house, but secretly, for fasting and poor clothing had made him unrecognizable. He lived there in a hut in poverty for the rest of his life as a servant of the servants, only revealing his identity at the end.

St. Paul and his sister inherited much wealth at their parents’ death, but his sister’s husband threatened to report him as a Christian if he did not hand over his share of the inheritance. St. Paul, inspired by the spirit of the Gospel’s self-sacrifice and to avoid persecution, gave up all his worldly goods and went into the desert to live a life of asceticism. He was the first hermit of the Thebaid, living alone in a cave with a spring, and ate only dates and covered himself with palm leaves. Later, a raven was sent by God to bring him bread each day. St. Anthony the Great met him at the end of his life and buried him. St. Paul died at the age of 113.